Curious which of America’s highly selective universities boasts the most Rhodes Scholars? We know you woke up this morning with this exact question on your minds. Well, wonder no more! We’ve got answers for you. So, which school takes the grand prize for most Rhodes Scholars between the years of 1904 and 2026? Look no further than…Harvard University with 402 Rhodes Scholars. We know. Not so shocking. The runner-up? Yale University with 270 Rhodes Scholars. Taking bronze? Princeton University with 219 Rhodes Scholars.

Surprise, Surprise! The Ivy League Produces the Most Rhodes Scholars

Rounding out the list of schools with 20 or more Rhodes Scholars between 1904 – 2026 after Harvard, Yale, and Princeton are: U.S. Military Academy (111), Stanford University (109), Dartmouth College (66), Brown University (61), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (61), University of Virginia (57), University of Chicago (53), U.S. Naval Academy (52), Duke University (51), University of North Carolina (47), U.S. Air Force Academy (46), University of Washington (38), Williams College (36), Columbia University (35), Reed College (32), University of Wisconsin (32), Cornell University (31), University of Michigan (31), University of Oklahoma (30), University of Texas at Austin (30), Washington University in St. Louis (30), Georgetown University (29), Swarthmore College (28), University of Montana (28), Sewanee: The University of the South (28), Vanderbilt University (27), University of Mississippi (27), University of Kansas (27),  University of Georgia (27), University of Pennsylvania (26), University of Arizona (25), University of California – Berkeley (25), West Virginia University (24), University of Minnesota (24), Davidson College (24), University of Utah (23), Johns Hopkins University (23), Bowdoin College (22), University of Nebraska (22), University of Colorado (21), Amherst College (21), and University of Iowa (21).

Schools With the Most U.S. Rhodes Scholarships (1904 – 2026)

School	Rhodes Scholars
Harvard University	402
Yale University	270
Princeton University	219
U.S. Military Academy	111
Stanford University	109
Dartmouth College	66
Brown University	61
Massachusetts Institute of Technology	61
University of Virginia	57
University of Chicago	53
U.S. Naval Academy	52
Duke University	51
University of North Carolina	47
U.S. Air Force Academy	46
University of Washington	38
Williams College	36
Columbia University	35
Reed College	32
University of Wisconsin	32
Cornell University	31
University of Michigan	31
University of Oklahoma	30
University of Texas at Austin	30
Washington University in St. Louis	30
Georgetown University	29
Swarthmore College	28
University of Montana	28
Sewanee: The University of the South	28
Vanderbilt University	27
University of Mississippi	27
University of Kansas	27
University of Georgia	27
University of Pennsylvania	26
University of Arizona	25
University of California – Berkeley	25
West Virginia University	24
University of Minnesota	24
Davidson College	24
University of Utah	23
Johns Hopkins University	23
Bowdoin College	22
University of Nebraska	22
University of Colorado	21
Amherst College	21
University of Iowa	21

Which Schools Have the Most Rhodes Scholars? 

So each of the eight Ivy League institutions boasts at least 26 Rhodes Scholars in history (UPenn brings up the rear for the Ancient Eight). It’s also not too surprising that many of our nation’s largest public universities make the cut as well (and not just the highly selective ones, like the University of Michigan and the University of Virginia). There are many students at these schools (e.g., the University of Kansas, the University of Arizona), especially compared to some smaller schools like Reed College and Davidson College. Reed College, in particular, is really hitting above its weight, which should fill the institution with pride. And Sewanee: The University of the South? We’ve hardly even heard of that one. Apparently, it’s in Sewanee, Tennessee. Who knew?

And why do these schools produce the most Rhodes Scholars? For the same reason, they are considered the most prestigious and, in some cases, highly selective colleges in the nation. By vetting the top academic talent in the nation in their admissions processes, these schools admit future Rhodes Scholars before they even know they’re Rhodes Scholars! Thus is the importance of getting into the best college possible: it sets one up for future success!